A user equipment (UE) receives a first synchronization signal (SS) block including a first codeword and a second SS block including a second codeword. Each codeword is based on a linear encoding of a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) payload. The PBCH payloads include different timing indicators. The SS blocks are received at different times separated by a time increment. The UE determines, based on the time increment, one or more hypotheses of combined decoding metrics for the first codeword and the second codeword, and decodes the first codeword based on each of at least one hypothesis in the one or more hypotheses. The at least one hypothesis includes a correct hypothesis. The UE determines the first codeword based on an error detection procedure such as CRC verification performed when decoding the first codeword based on the correct hypothesis.